My brother and I went out riding trails today, and went to the lake. The snowmobiles had a nice pack trail threw the lake, so we scoped it out to make sure of any open area's or ice heeves. Then we lined them up. The race was about a 1000' long. Both atv's are stock, and we both this weekend put 13 tooth sprockets on. His Z is well broken in, I just did my first oil change. Back to the race. He got me out of the hole every time, and once he was ahead, I could not catch him. For me I was just spinning. After he beat me 4 times, we swithed bikes. His Z would just shoot out of the hole like it was on pavement, and I beat my Predator. Then I switched back and started in 2nd, got a little in front of him, and I actually won. But then he started in 2nd, then I lost again. So we raced 10 times with him beating me 9 times. But once I stud my tires, I think it will be the other way around. Did I forget to say his Z has about 120 studs per tire. Woops, well I still had a good time. But I can tell you, mine will be studded next time.

 

What are you going to run for studs? actual ice screws? or sheet metal screws?

I have a bunch (1200) of #8 X1/2" sheet metal screws (hex head) that I'm thinking about putting in the stock tires what do think?

If I did it I would use locktight on them also to help hold them in.

 

I went riding saturday and meet up with a banshee 400EX and a raptor. They asked me a few questions about my predator, was is stock, are those a-arms factory, were those shocks stock,ect. I told them it was completely bone stock and the only things I have done to it were bolt on the sand tires front and back and changed the front and rear sprockets. The fella on the raptor asks me"is it fast?" I says "yep its very fast". So the fella on the raptor asks me if I would run his friend on the banshee, I told him sure lets go. Here is a little info about the bikes. The banshee has FMF pipes a boost bottle a cool head and clamp on K&N's directly to the carbs. This I seen as I was scoping out his machine. The raptor fella told me he had a CT sonic pipe on his and the 400EX had a big gun exhaust. We lined up me and the banshee and the raptor. The guy on the 400EX flags us and we launch. The raptor stands it up on a wheelie, me and the banshee leave together, I shift the preator in to 3rd, carry a one foot high wheelie all through 3rd as I pull away from the banshee. I shifted to 4th and slide back on the seat and just wind it plum out. I beat the banshee by 2 bikes. I asks him if he wants to run again. We line up the raptor doesn't even both to run with us. I beat him again by 2 bikes. These guys now have great respect for the polaris predator. We talked about it being stock and how much faster it would be with a pipe and K&N filter. They were very impressed with how fast it was for a stock quad. All this took place in the sand. I rode all day with these guys, we had a great time.
turbo bobby

 

I know my brother bought his studs at a Yami dealer, and was told they were harden and would last longer then sheet metal screws. To me, they looked the same. He bought 1000 studs for $50, so there not carbide. All I know is, it made a big difference. As we were going down the trails, he was going straight, and my *** end was everywhere. What I plan on doing is, using the stock tires for winter and have them studded, and get some 22" tires for the spring. I've heard of people putting in sheet metal screws, but I don't know how good they did. Let me know if you do this and how they did. But I can tell you, having a studded atv makes winter riding more enjoyable.

 

GE4x4~
I've used sheet metal screws in my tires for the past 2 years and have been satisfied with the results. The screws bite real well for the first few rides, but they eventually get rounded off and loose their bite. I just rotated all the screws 180 degrees and there was a sharp biting surface again! I have not tried actual tire studs, so I can't compare the screws to them.

 

vil: That's kewl to hear... glad you took care of business. Now pipe it and filter it. See what happens next?